Audi A3 Sportback 1.8 TFSI S-tronic Review: Hatching the egg

What we like:

Interior is tops - typical high quality Audi build. Engine is always raring to go.

What we dislike:

Very twitchy low-speed power delivery. Suspension is neither too stiff nor too pliant - Is it supposed to be sporty or comfortable? 

Fire up the 1.8-liter TFSI unit and the engine comes to life with a somewhat refined four-pot growl. Power is transmitted through a 7-speed S-Tronic (DSG in VW speak) gearbox, which promises F1-quick shifts. The motor is lively and is always raring to go, which must be why the car is so “twitchy” at low speeds. If you’re trying to impress your date with this car, gingerly stepping on the accelerator for a smooth takeoff is a must...Really.

The ride is a factor largely determined by personal choice. The A3 rides softer than a Golf GTI, but harder than the A4. So if you were hoping for a stiff setup, it’s not all there. If you thought the ride would be on the softer side (as I did), you’ll find that it’s actually stiffer than you’d prefer. Luckily, you can forego the stock suspension and opt for Audi’s high-tech magnetic ones instead.

The Sportback, with its 5-doors, has got the practicality factor down. Audi is fast becoming a cool brand, and the affluent young are starting to identify with this.

So should you get one? There’s a lot going for the Sportback - solid feel and build quality, married to a great engine and gearbox combo.

At a price of S$116,000, the Audi A3 may not be a cheap acquisition. However, if you look from another perspective - that the A3 offers the best of both worlds, a comfortable and sedate ride when you want a comfortable cruise on the expressway and still be a fun car to punt around the track when you are up to it – suddenly, the asking price seems more like a bargain.

Credits: Story by Azfar Hashim, Jarvis Seo and Jeremy Chua. Pictures by Azfar Hashim